Mon August 6, 2012

Planting Good Ideas In New York, N.Y.

This month we are collecting your stories about the good things Americans are doing to make their community a better place. Some of your contributions will become blog posts and the project will end with a story that weaves together submissions to make a story of Americans by Americans for Americans.

Volunteer Darryl Burnette, 40, knew he was part of something worthwhile when he saw the eyes of city children widen at the discovery: Corn does not come from a can originally; it grows on stalks.

Burnette, a professional chef, lives in Harlem and spends about 10 hours a week at Harlem Grown — a nonprofit that promotes urban gardening and good nutrition among school kids — tending plants and helping develop healthy-eating programs.

"It's harder to reach some of the older folks," he says. "It's best to start with the children because you help them build good habits."